Astros' offensive woes won't speed up timeline for Yulieski Gurriel

Updated 7:21 pm, Friday, August 5, 2016

Although the Astros came into the weekend desperate for another capable bat in their lineup, the team's recent offensive struggles will not expedite the timeline for Yulieski Gurriel's major league debut, general manager Jeff Luhnow said on Friday.

Gurriel is still expected to debut in the middle of this month, most likely during the Astros' two-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 16 and 17. If their $47.5 million man arrives earlier, it's because he has displayed his readiness ahead of schedule.

"If our coaches and scouts are telling us that they think he's ready to contribute up here, that's when we'll make the decision, irrespective of what's happening with the big league club," Luhnow said.

Gurriel has three hits, including a double, through six at-bats spanning two games with Class A Lancaster in the hitter-friendly California League. The 32-year-old Cuban infielder played the field for the first time in minor league game action on Thursday, manning third base.

Off on Friday night, Gurriel is scheduled to remain with the Lancaster affiliate through its homestand that ends Sunday. He will likely next join Class AA Corpus Christi for its six-game homestand that begins Tuesday.

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Yulieski Gurriel is still expected to debut in the middle of this month, most likely during the Astros' two-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 16 and 17.

Yulieski Gurriel is still expected to debut in the middle of this month, most likely during the Astros' two-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 16 and 17.

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel hugs Astros minority owner Raul Pedraza after Gurriel was introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston. less

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel hugs Astros minority owner Raul Pedraza after Gurriel was introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is interviewed by the media after the Astros agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is interviewed by the media after the Astros agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel laughs as he speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel laughs as he speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel laughs as he speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel laughs as he speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel hugs Astros minority owner Raul Pedraza after Gurriel was introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston. less

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel hugs Astros minority owner Raul Pedraza after Gurriel was introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel turns around so the media could get a photo of his name on the back of the Houston Astros jersey as General Manager Jeff Luhnow introduced him, after they agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston. less

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel turns around so the media could get a photo of his name on the back of the Houston Astros jersey as General Manager Jeff Luhnow introduced him, after they agreed to terms, ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel speaks to the media after he and Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow agreed to terms, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel is introduced to the media by Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow after they agreed to terms with him, Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

Astros' offensive woes won't speed up timeline for Yulieski Gurriel

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After wrapping up their series against the first-place Texas Rangers on Sunday, the Astros hit the road for seven games against the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. The team has applied for a Canadian work visa so that Gurriel could play in Toronto if called upon, but that's a process it would have undertaken anyway in case of postseason action against the Blue Jays.

It still seems unlikely Gurriel will join the Astros before their next homestand. Between his stints with the team's Gulf Coast League and Lancaster affiliates, he has played only four games since the approval of his work visa a week ago. Before beginning his big league tune up, he had not played competitively since February.

"We're going to be flexible," Luhnow said. "But it's the equivalent of saying, 'Were any of our players ready for a major league game in the middle of a pennant race on March 4th after two spring training games?' "

Luhnow said previously he anticipated Gurriel requiring at least two weeks of game activity before the Astros determined if he was ready to debut.

"He's been taking good at-bats," Luhnow said. "You get a lot of false positives from Lancaster in terms of numbers because of the environment there. But the staff reports were all very positive. We'll see how it goes this weekend."